Mozambique: Renamo’s Momade demands election investigation – By Joseph Hanlon

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Mozambique: Renamo’s Momade demands election investigation – By Joseph Hanlon

6:28 CAT | 20 Nov 2018

Ossufo Momade. File photo: Lusa

An independent commission of inquiry to investigate the fraud perpetrated during the elections must be created, demanded Ossufo Momade, the interim coordinator of the Renamo Political Commission, at a press conference addressed by telephone from his bush headquarters in Gorongosa this morning (20 November).

He dismissed the validation and proclamation of the results by the Constitutional Council (CC) as “a real farce”. In three municipalities – Moatize, Alto Molocue and Monapo – STAE provisional counts and/or parallel counts showed that Renamo had won, but the CC approved a Frelimo victory. The CC rejected Renamo protests because it did not first protest at intermediate count meetings from which it was illegally excluded. Renamo also contests with very close result in Matola, where no provisional count was released.

Comment: The decision of the late Renamo head Afonso Dhlakama to end military action and stand for municipal elections was based on President Nyusi’s implicit promise that through decentralisation Renamo would be able to gain some power in provinces and municipalities. This depended on Nyusi’s promise that he could ensure Frelimo would act in good faith, and permit Renamo some real power over spending and appointments, at least at provincial and local level. The blatant move to block Renamo gaining power in 3 to 5 municipalities, as rubber stamped by the National Elections Commission and Constitutional Council, surely raises questions about Frelimo’s good faith. This must have an effect on the on-going negotiations over decentralisation and Renamo integration into the police and military. When the Constitutional Council says, as it has in this case, that Frelimo can exclude Renamo from the counting of votes and the law gives Renamo no recourse, Renamo will surely be more distrusting of Frelimo promises of sharing power.

By Joseph Hanlon

Source: 2018 Local Elections - Mozambique Political Process Bulletin